James Bay and Beyond

Day -1 Preps
This ride report is intended to capture a ride through Ontario and Quebec that will go up the James Bay Road to Raddison, QC (E below); the Trans-Taiga Highway to where the sidewalk ends (F); a short run out to Chisisibi (G) to actually see James Bay; take the North Road across the middle of Quebec to Chibougamau (H); and a piece of the Trans-Canada Route (I, J, K, L) to Forrestville (M). Then back south to home.

the heart of the ride

The Trans-Taigas northeastern terminus is almost at the 55th parallel north, making it the northernmost continuous road in Eastern North America. The terminus is also the farthest point from any town (745 kilometres (463 mi) from Radisson) via road in North America.

My riding partners will be Blaster11 (Bruce) on an HP2, Dorito (Dana, aka Bruces better half) on an F650GS, Keithmckenny (Keith) on an R1200GS. I will be on an F700GS

[FONT=&quot]Day 1 August 24 Millersville MD to Bradford PA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]When we started planning this ride back in February August 24 seemed far far away. Now its upon us. The bike is loaded and ready[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]The GPS has points loaded, odometer zeroed, and is ready[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]The rider has climbed aboard and is not ready:eek1[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]The first step is to rendezvous at a WaWa in Millersville MD at 0800. Amazingly we are all there on time.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Keith and me[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Bruce and Dana[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Now how do these Scalas pair?[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Eventually they do and we are ready to ride. Bruce, me, Keith, Dana.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]We are off to Millersburg PA to see the last ferry on the Susquehanna River and the last paddle wheel ferry in the US. The ride is basically get around Baltimore, take I83 north to I81 and then ride up the river to Millersburg. Nothing exciting in that.

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[FONT=&quot]When we get there the ferry is on the other side of the river so we use the state of the art summoning system[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Bikes lined up waiting for the ride[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]It works  here comes the ferry[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]While we were waiting 9 more bikes show up so it is quite a load.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Heres how it works the engine[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Is geared to a chain drive[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]That turns the paddles[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]After we get off the boat it is lunch time so we go here[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]No food pictures but it was very good  recommended[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Bruce puts his keys down the lg vent on his KLiM pants and he and Keith have a job retrieving them.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Then we head north and west up Rte 322  very nice almost slab limited access highway which I assume was funded to ease access to Penn State. Eventually we get to a gas stop in Penville PA and after refueling Danas bike wont start. Lets take it apart. Battery wont charge. Apparently the stator is toast.
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[FONT=&quot] And Dana has a brand new one at home  which is four hours away by the fastest route. What to do. We swap Keiths battery for Danas and she and Bruce will ride home to affect repairs. The plan is to rejoin us in Matagami on Monday 26 August. Bad part is she will be riding without a headlight to reduce drain on the battery and part of the ride will be in the dark. We jump start her battery in Keiths bike and he and I head north according to plan. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Our next stop is to see Kinzua Bridge. The Kinzua Bridge or the Kinzua Viaduct was a railroad trestle that spanned Kinzua Creek in McKean County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Prior to its collapse in 2003, the bridge was 301 feet (92 m) tall and 2,052 feet (625 m) long. On July 21, 2003, a tornado struck the Kinzua Bridge, snapping and uprooting nearby trees, as well as causing 11 of the 20 bridge towers to collapse. Before its collapse, the Kinzua Bridge was ranked as the fourth-tallest railway bridge in the United States.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The trains came from here[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]And went there.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Views of the bridge and vicinity[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Skywalk section[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Finally it was off to Bradford PA to end the day. We stayed in a Best Western that had about 30 other motorcycles in the lot. Seems it was a ride weekend for the Erie PA H.O.G. chapter and they chose to ride the 100 miles to Bradford. A bunch of nice guys who were appreciative of what we had planned.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Dinner was at a local restaurant - Beefeaters  no pictures  but four thumbs up.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Todays ride 380 miles.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 2 August 25  Bradford PA to Sudbury ON[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]So we got up early and since the hotel didnt start serving breakfast until 7 we decided to start down the road and eat when we found an open diner. But first a few pictures[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Motorcycles at the hotel (there were at least 30 there)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Methodist Church[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]The old post office[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]There are a lot of neat old structures in Bradford.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We headed north on Rte 219, riding in a very damp and dense fog. The temperature was about 48F. Then like magic the fog lifted and immediately it was 60. Amazing. 219 was a nice ride and when we got to Springville, we decided it was time to eat. Heres the place[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Again no food picture so use your imagination[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]We buy gas in Buffalo and head over the Peace Bridge. They take EZ pass on the bridge. Saved a lot of hassle with tolls. Only 5 or so cars ahead of me in the line.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Then to see Niagara Falls. Lots of changes since I was last there in 1964. We get rock star [parking with American Falls in the background (use your imagination to see it).[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Then we play tourist and take pictures like everyone else.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]You cant go to Canada without visiting Tim Hortons. This one is on prime real estate.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]I have always wanted to see the Welland Canal. The Welland Canal extends 42 km (26 mi) from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, this canal enables ships to ascend and descend the Niagara Escarpment and to bypass Niagara Falls. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The vistors center and museum (also the Ontario Lacross Hall of Fame is here)[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]View North[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]View South[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Then we got to play in the Toronto area Sunday traffic. Thought I was back in DC. 401 was jammed and 400 didnt ease up until Barrie. From there north 400 was a good road to ride. We stopped in Coldwater for lunch at Tiffanys.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Comfort food for the ride.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Right after leaving Coldfwater Keith decided he should don his rain gear. Good idea. It began to pour and basically for the next 250km we rode in rain. Canadian drivers heading north were not so polite to one another. The traffic going south was a solid mass of vehicles so I am happy we will take another route south. We stopped at the French River trading post for a stretch before riding the last 39 miles to Sudbury.
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[FONT=&quot]A Comfort Inn never looked so good. It was full so it was a good thing Keith had made reservations. And it is really good that there is twice the normal floor space as we have crap everywhere drying out.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Todays ride 405 miles.[/FONT]

I'm in. Been wanting to make this ride for a couple of years. Been away from the US for awhile and planning to be back in a few months. Next year I'm hoping to do it...
Yea man, keep posting so the rest of us can see it..
Ride safe there...
Ken

Day -1 Preps
This ride report is intended to capture a ride through Ontario and Quebec that will go up the James Bay Road to Raddison, QC (E below); the Trans-Taiga Highway to where the sidewalk ends (F); a short run out to Chisisibi (G) to actually see James Bay; take the North Road across the middle of Quebec to Chibougamau (H); and a piece of the Trans-Canada Route (I, J, K, L) to Forrestville (M). Then back south to home.

the heart of the ride

The Trans-Taigas northeastern terminus is almost at the 55th parallel north, making it the northernmost continuous road in Eastern North America. The terminus is also the farthest point from any town (745 kilometres (463 mi) from Radisson) via road in North America.

My riding partners will be Blaster11 (Bruce) on an HP2, Dorito (Dana, aka Bruces better half) on an F650GS, Keithmckenny (Keith) on an R1200GS. I will be on an F700GS

Sorry no real ride report today. the internet connection here at Matagami (mah Tah gah me) cannot handle the pictures. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Keith and I rode 415 miles through fog, heavy rain, more fog, heavy rain, bright sunshine, more heavy rain, and finished up in the sunshine. Bruce and Dana arrived shortly after we did after a 14 hour day from Binghamton NY.
The roads were really great and a joy to ride.

Tomorrow 385 miles to Raddison. If it is at all possible two real ride reports will be posted.

We are up and ready to go before 8. But before we can get started we start sharing ride stories with some Harley riders who are staying at our motel. They are also distance riders who have given up shining chrome because it takes time away from riding. Good guys and kindred spirits. We shared some bad Harley and BMW insults.

So I wanted to see it. It was overcast, foggy, and threatening rain as we left the parking lot and rode out to find the nickle.

it so happens that while we were there a film crew was working on a public service announcement for nickle (the mineral)

who's that in the background?
It after 9 when we finally get out of Sudbury because of the Harley guys, the nickle, an ATM and gas. We head East following a route from an acquaintance in Sudbury. The fog turns into a miserable downpour which eventually turns to fog again. We stop at a lake for a rest stop.

the roads we were on looked like this

The sun is trying to come out as we stop at the Montreal RIver Bridge because ti looked interesting

Keith insisted I be in a picture

We decide to stop for lunch
Gilli's truck stop

Interesting names for the breakfast items

Food porn Carrot soup

Club sandwich, grilled ham and cheese, and poutine for my colleague Jordan

Great roads from here - well maintained with fun long sweeping curves.

Did I mention the construction delays?

It started to rain again and while we were arranging rain gear these guys stopped to see if we needed help - real adventure riders

Forest fire remains

More construction

After 10 hours and 405 miles we arrive in Matagami and the hotel

Dana and Bruce are about 30 minutes behind us
We go for food

Tomorrow its off to Radisson and the end of Phase One of our trip.
Today was 415 miles

Dana had a 30% off coupon for anything with a BMW stock number and since she was aware of a stator problem with her model she bought one (saved $300)

Click to expand...

It's hard to get the girl out of the sale. Even though it tied up a chunk of change for a bit, it was fun to buy as I had saved all that moola (Never mind the other money spent )... Besides, it temporarily distracted me from buying (another) pair of riding gloves

Today's ride is pretty straightforward. We leave the hotel. Gas up. Turn left. Turn right. RIde all day - Look at the top line of the GPS directions

The band is back together Dana and Bruce arrived just behind us yesterday.
Keith with Bruce and Dana's bikes

Breakfast room at the hotel

Breakfast porn

A couple on a Paris-Dakar getting ready to leave the hotel to ride north to see their son in Chisasibi

Another pair of adventure riders getting ready to head north

here we go

You have to stop here to register for the road and get a safety brief

It is a long way to the next gas stop. there is a story here which will come up shortly

Lots of scenery like this along the way

James Bay road - good riding and the frost heaves weren't too bad. about halfway they either went away or I stopped noticing.

Old forest fire damage

Along the way we take a rest (about 125 miles in)

Nice river to look at but also lots of mosquitos

Eventually we get to the Rupert River Bridge. The rapids are beautiful. The word is they are nothing compared to how they were 4 years ago before a hydro project changed the water flow.

Fow a while we interpreted this to mean you can't do anything but finally found one not so faded and it is no littering

Entrance to the North Road - we ride year on Sunday

We are now a long ways since we bought gas and fuel lights are coming on. Bruce wonders who will go empty first and I opine it will be me. Conversation centers on how may miles to empty. BMW changed the mileage estimate to empty on the F700/800 models to miles since the fuel light came on rather than miles to empty. I have never ridden more than 22 in that mode. We all decide we will ride till the bike stops just to get data points. I make it till 59 and the bike dies with the GPS saying 9 miles till the gas stop. Keith stays with me while I refiuel.

The bike fires right up and we start back on the road looking for Bruce and Dana. Before we find them we find this 3 miles from my stop

I was three miles from victory. A recent forest fire was evident here and for a bout 50 miles. It burned right up to the gas stop. in the second picture you can see where the fire line was built. you could still smell the burnt vegetation

Lunch room.

Nice rock formation woke up my old rock climber imagination

Entrance to the Trans-Taiga Road - tomorrow's destination

Then it started to RAIN. The last 44 miles to Radisson were not pleasant.